Funding:
Funded in part by a grant from the National
Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by:
Lucious Edwards, Jr.

Repository

Special Collections and Archives, Johnston
Memorial Library, Virginia State University

Collection number

1954-1969

Title

Virginia Intercollegiate Association
papers
1954-1969

Physical Characteristics

100,000
items.

Collector

Virginia Intercollegiate
Association.

Language

English

Abstract

The records of the Association that
governed all non-academic activities of the black high schools
in Virginia. This manuscript group has correspondence,
photographs, minutes, reports, films,tapes,news clippings and
artifacts. The VIA was headquartered at Virginia State
University from 1954-1969. Acc #1969-37

Acquisition Information

The Virginia Interscholastic Association (VIA), which
existed from April 1954 through August 1969, was an
association of the high schools attended by African-Americans
in Virginia. During the years of operation, more than a
hundred high schools with a student population of more than
forty thousand had membership in the association.

An outgrowth of the Virginia Intersholastic Athletic League
(VIAL), which had provided an athletic program for the black
schools of the state for several decades, the VIA originated
with the Black school principals at the period in Virginia
education when the Black high school was developing into a
significant part of the school system of the state. Large
student enrollments, new school facilities with drama and
music departments, gymnasiums and athletic fields, science
departments, student newspapers and other organized school
activities increased the demand of the students and the
community for an adequte program of supervised and organized
interschool group relationahip and competitions which would
contribute to the fullest development of the high school
student.

at the urging of the African-American high school
principals Association, Virginia State College requested the
general Assembly to appropriate a budget for a central
coordinating agency. This agency would administer a state-
wide activities program serving the needs of the
African-American high school students of the state. Because
there was support being provided for the Virginia High School
League, A white student activities program administered
through the University of Virginia.

In 1954, the General Assembly provided an allocation in the
budget of Virginia State College for the administration of a
state-wide activities program in the African-Americans high
school of the state.

This budget, which was administered by VSTL through the
field services division, did not include provision for the
operation of the activities which were supported by student
membership fees in the high school having membership in the
Association. The Legislature support was discontinued in 1969
after the Virginia Interscholastic association was merged with
the Virginia High School league as Virginia no longer operated
seperate black and white school system.

Minutes, Reports, Correspondence, and Photographs, Printed
items and three-dimensional items documenting the programs and
activities of the African American secondary schools during
the Era of segregation in Virginia. These materials documented
how African Americans view the importance of extra curricular
activities in the educational matrix?

Series I. Minutes and Annual Reports Sub-series A.
Executive Committee The Executive committee consists of the
minutes from the meetings of this committee there from the
years 1954-1969. Some of the topics that were discussed were
reclassification of schools, rules and regulations, and the
agenda for the legislative council meeting. Also find present
is correspondence between the executive committee and various
principals of the V.I.A. This section should be helpful in
your research.

Sub-series B. The Legislative Committee The Legislative
committee was responsible for settling the disputes amongst
the V.I.A. The Legislative committee also nominated and voted
for the members at large of the executive committee. Also
correspondence between the legislative committee and various
principals and organizations that were important to the V.I.A.
There are a few reports from the executive secretary to the
legislative council in 1968-69 the year the VIA came to an
end. This file extends from 1954-1969.

Sub-Series C. Annual Reports This series conmsist of annual
reports submitted by the executive secretary to the
legislative council of the V.I.A. The dates of these reports
are from 1955 to 1969. These reports basketball tournaments,
the drama and musical festivals and other events throughout
the years of the V.I.A. There is also a section where various
principals of the VIA correspond with the executive
secretary.

Series II. Financial Sub-series A. Budgets This series
consist of the proposed budgets of the VIA during the years
1968-1969, salaries invoices from various companies along with
inter department requisitions.

Sub-series B. Membership Fees This series consist of the
VIA membership fees the years 1958-1961. There are also
partial payments papers and the total fees paid by various
schols in the VIA.

Sub-series C. Ledgers Reciepts disbursements and deposits
according to the bankbook from the year 1953-1955. the second
ledger consist of the fees paid by the various high schools
and junior high school in the VIA from the years
1954-1966.

Series III. Records Sub-series A. Handbooks These handbooks
range in years from 1955 to 1968. These books instruct the
V.I.A. members on how each event should be organized. There
are also maps, districts, district officers, finances and
awards listed in these books.

Sub-series B. Eligibility Records Eligibility records,
1955-1968 were kept inorder to prove who should be allowed to
participate in various sporting activities.

Sub-series C. Seasons Records The records of individual
schools, games won and lost, district and state
championships.

Series IV. Administrative Correspondence Sub-series A.
Presidents Office of Virginia State University Correspondence
between the executive secretary and the presidents of Virginia
State University from 1953- 1969.

Sub-series B. The Executive Secretary's Office Working
papers and documents along with memorandums.

Sub-series C. Subject School Correspondence. Correspondence
in Memorandums from the presidents office to member schools.
Also includes public relations and protest from member
schools.

This box contains the official programs
for the V.I.A. state basketball Tournament from
1967-1969. It has the V.I.A. calendar of events
from 1965-1969. It includes playbills for the
Annual drama festival from 1955-1968.
Administrative forms and certificates honoring
V.I.A. participants.

Box-folder
47:1

This box includes 11 picture blocks.
Many of the pictures are of basketball teams
receiving awards after games. The others are of
other people of groups receiving
awards.

Box-folder
48:1

This box contains the master basketball
schedules and football schedules from 1957 to
1968. There are also envelopes including the
V.I.A- general season tickets. Golf, Tournament
scores, V.I.A. football schedules, and Basketball
Schedule.